GHC1.50 grant increment will be paid from 2nd term of 2023/2024 academic year – School Feeding Programme Secretariat

The Ghana School Feeding Programme (GSFP), has clarified that the increment of the grant to GHC1.50 will take effect from second term of the 2023/2024 academic year.

The GSFP said this position is captured in the government’s 2024 budget.

“…wishes to announce to its cherished caterers and all stakeholders that the proposed One Ghana Cedis Fifty Pesewas (GH¢1.50) increment in the feeding grant per each beneficiary pupil would take effect from the payment of the Second Term of the 2023/2024 academic year as captured by the 2024 Budget and Financial Statement of the Government,” a press release dated July 5 signed by Head of Public Relations, Siiba Alfa stated.

“All Caterers under the Programme in all the 16 regions should be rest assured that the National Secretariat is assiduously working through the sector Ministry to ensure a timeous release of funds by the Controller and Accountant General’s Department to clear outstanding arrears using the new approved rate in the coming weeks,” it added.

The GSFP reiterated that “the recent payment for the first term arrears was based on a grant of GH¢1.20, as captured under the 2023 budget. This means paying any amount other than what was approved by the Finance Ministry would have been extremely challenging.

it further explained that, “The GH¢1.20 paid for the first term covered 58 cooking days, which is also based on the numbers of days caterers were able to feed beneficiary pupils during the term.

The Government acknowledges the challenges faced by our caterers, and the National Secretariat can confirm that each caterer would receive GH¢1.50 per pupil per day in the next payment.”

The GSFP appealed to the caterers “to exercise a little more patience as we finalize process for the second term payment. We sincerely appreciate your ongoing cooperation and understanding despite the delays.”

Meanwhile, the GSFP Secretariat has directed that all Caterers who genuinely have issues of underpayment or no payment, should immediately report to their Regional Coordinators for prompt redress.

Read also:

‘Government delays in paying us because we are nobody’ – School Feeding Caterers

 

The post GHC1.50 grant increment will be paid from 2nd term of 2023/2024 academic year – School Feeding Programme Secretariat first appeared on 3News.

Read Full Story